What is brainstorming? A simple way to spark creative ideas.

Summary/Overview

Whether it’s a new project, an innovative product or a refresher of your brand, a brainstorm can help you unlock the creative side of your team. No matter if your business works from the office or remotely, you can organise a brainstorm to bring people together and find a solution to any problem. Learn more about the benefits of brainstorming in our guide, how Adobe Express can support and tips on how to make the most of this method.

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What is brainstorming?

Brainstorming is a popular method for gathering lots of ideas and information to solve a problem or develop a plan. Brainstorming is typically used in business settings, where teams come together to discuss ideas and get creative.

You might set up a brainstorm to create a plan for your company’s blog content or to come up with a name for a new product. Brainstorms are great for pooling lots of different ideas and opinions to find one that meets the brief overall.

You can use a concept map to plot out ideas and allow people to contribute their thoughts and suggestions to be discussed as a group. Brainstorms can be conducted in person or virtually with software designed to allow people to add their ideas to an online whiteboard.

Brainstorming template examples from Adobe Express.

What are the benefits of brainstorming?

There are many benefits to brainstorming as they allow a group to come together to pool ideas and discuss possibilities. Brainstorming boosts creativity, as it is not just one or two people but a blend of experiences and backgrounds joining with one goal in mind. Here, we’ve considered some key benefits:

Brainstorming boosts collaboration and teamwork.

Brainstorming encourages collaboration and opens the floor to different ideas. What someone may believe is an excellent idea another might spot a flaw. A basic thought can quickly develop into a bigger, more fleshed out plan with many minds discussing and collaborating.

You can gather lots of ideas at once.

Brainstorming allows you to quickly generate many ideas in one session that can be adapted and reshaped at a later point if needed. It gives you a pool of creativity to fall back on in the future when you may be looking for supporting or new ideas.

Gains different viewpoints.

Brainstorming brings people together who may have different working and life experiences. People from different backgrounds can offer different insights on an idea to ensure it is well received and inclusive. Brainstorms that include people from different backgrounds reduces the risk of biases and can provide new perspectives on issues.

Breaks up routine.

Introducing brainstorming to a project or process that would otherwise not usually include one can shake things up and boost creativity. Breaking routine allows people to reset and approach a problem from a different angle.

How to run a brainstorming session.

Brainstorming sessions can be great fun to lead. But if you’ve never handled one before you may feel unsure where to begin. There are lots of different styles of brainstorms, but you’ll find common themes across them all. Here are the essential elements of an effective brainstorm:

Choose the right number of participants.

Brainstorms benefit from having multiple people involved, but you also don’t want to have too many. You could follow the Amazon meeting rule, where the number of people invited should comfortably be able to enjoy two pizzas, resulting in a small and focused group. It is always a good idea to have a ‘neutral party’ in a brainstorm, someone who can approach the idea or project with a fresh perspective and offer new ideas.

Identify the problem you want to fix.

It’s important that everyone understand what the end goal is so ideas don’t run away into the realms of fantasy. Keep everyone on track by highlighting what ‘problem’ you want to fix from the beginning.

Assign a moderator.

If you want to focus on the ideas, assign someone to take notes and compile discussion points to review later. They can also make sure the meeting stays within the time limit and the session doesn’t overrun.

Don’t criticise ideas – write everything down.

“There are no wrong answers” can feel like a cliché, but it really isn’t. Because while on the surface an idea may not work, it could be adaptable, or spark an idea in someone else. Write everything down that you discuss to consider later and potentially adjust to work for your needs.

Set time to review ideas and follow up.

It’s easy to chat about ideas and get excited for plans but it’s also important to take time to review and action what was discussed. Make sure you allocate time after the brainstorming session to look over ideas and assign actions off the back of them to get things moving.

Top tips for turning brainstorms into real ideas.

Brainstorms can feel daunting as you’ll need to take what is discussed and turn your concepts into tangible ideas. Here are some ways to ensure you get the most out of your brainstorming session.

• Try out different techniques. There is no wrong way to brainstorm. You could organise a general chatty meeting and jot notes down or try out a method such as brainwriting. This is where individuals write down their ideas before the meeting or at the start of the brainstorm and then present them later to discuss.
• Write everything down. Remember, there’s no such thing as a bad idea! What you might think isn’t achievable could be adapted into something that benefits you and your business.
• Ensure your brainstorming session is a safe space. Allow people to share their thoughts openly without the risk of criticism.
• Give everyone a chance to speak. Make sure that everyone involved can offer their insights. Brainstorms are great for encouraging more introverted team members to get involved with bigger plans, so make sure you accommodate them during the session.
• Hold a hybrid brainstorm if needed. If some of your team members are remote, make sure they’re still included in the session. You could dial them into your meeting room and chat through ideas, but make sure those that are online aren’t left out of the conversation.

Browse free brainstorm templates to kick off your ideations.

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Useful things to know.

What are the different brainstorming techniques?

There are various ways to brainstorm, including general discussions, mind mapping, brainwriting and SWOT analysis. Each has its benefits, so it’s a good idea to play around with techniques to find something that works for you and your team.

What are the four rules of brainstorming?

There are no real rules to brainstorming, but four key things to consider include: not criticising ideas, focusing on quantity, welcoming unusual ideas and encouraging just one conversation at a time so everyone gets to voice their thoughts.

What should you not do during a brainstorm?

When brainstorming, you shouldn’t judge others’ ideas, go off topic, allow one person to dominate the discussion or fail to encourage those who aren’t contributing to take part. Reducing distractions is also a good idea, so encourage your team not to bring their phones and laptops into a brainstorming session – a good old-fashioned notepad should do.

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